Nurse's Perceptions and Roles in the Management of Chronic Kidney Disease‐Associated Pruritus: A Multicentre Survey Across Europe

Background: Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus is a debilitating condition affecting people on haemodialysis, and nephrology nurses have the potential to play a crucial role in its early identification and management. Objectives: To investigate the nephrology nurses' perceptions and roles in the identification and management of chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus among people receiving haemodialysis. Design: A survey-based, cross-sectional study was conducted by the European Dialysis Transplant Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association, using a structured questionnaire designed by the researchers and distributed online. Participants: Nephrology nurses working in the haemodialysis field. Results: A total of 286 questionnaire submissions were received from 15 European countries. The study sample comprised 48 male and 238 female nurses. The findings reveal that 71.9% of nurses participating in the study widely agreed that the people on haemodialysis under their care tend to withhold reporting symptoms of chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus. Nurses perceived that approximately 25% of their people on haemodialysis did not openly discuss their symptoms of pruritus with their care team. Most nurses (76.4%) reported being involved in recommending or prescribing treatments for chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus, with 71.4% specifically addressing treatments for itching. However, 35.5% of healthcare professionals do not fully recognise the link between pruritus and kidney disease. Conclusion: The study highlights the complex challenges nephrology nurses face in identifying and managing chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus. It emphasises the significant impact of pruritus on people's quality of life and the crucial role nurses can play in early detection and management.